H. Clinton in video supports gay marriage

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WASHINGTON, March 18 (UPI) -- Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke in support of gay marriage, announcing her stance in a video posted Monday by the Human Rights Campaign.

"LGBT [Lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender] Americans are our colleagues, our teachers, our soldiers, our friends and our loved ones, and they are full and equal citizens and deserve the rights of citizenship. That includes marriage," she said in a 6-minute video posted on the Human Rights Campaign website. "That's why I support marriage for lesbian and gay couples. I support it personally and as a matter of policy and law."

She said she believed America was "at its best when we champion the dignity of every human being. ... It's in our DNA."

Saying marriage is a "fundamental building block of our society," Clinton said to deny that opportunity based solely on who people are or whom they love is to "deny them the chance to live up to their own God-given potential."

Her position has evolved, she said, from personal experience, her experience as the nation's top diplomat and her love of the law.

"The Human Rights Campaign is honored to have Secretary Clinton's moving statement as part of our Americans for Marriage Equality series," the organization posted on its website. "Now that she has left office and can speak publicly about the issue that is so important to all of us, Hillary shares her experience as secretary and what she learned while representing our country around the world, and what she has come to believe."

Clinton left her post earlier this year. She has consistently denied she is interested in seeking the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016, although numerous national polls indicate she has strong support.